Practice and learning “ a learning programme requires skills to be practiced using repetition and progression to improve movement technique”

There are different types of practice methods that can be used in skill learning. Whether the skill is taught together (whole learning) as one sequence or broken down (subroutines) into different parts (part learning). Whether the practice is continuous (massed) or spread out (distributed)

Whole learning Whole learning occurs when the skill is taught together “ in one piece”. Some skills need to be learnt as a whole as they can’t be broken down. The skill is first demonstrated and then practised as a whole, from start to finish. It helps the learner to get a feel for the skill, timings and end product. It is best used for fast skills which cannot easily be separated into sub-parts. It is unsuitable for people with low attention spans, complex or dangerous skills.

Part practice The parts of the skill are practiced in isolation. Useful for complicated and serial skills.  Good for maintaining motivation and focusing on specific elements of the skill. “It is possible, however, that the transfer of the skills from parts, to a whole may not be effective and it may also reduce the kinaesthetic awareness (feel) for the full skill”

DESCRIBING OVERHEAD CLEAR PREPERATION START FREOM BASE TRACK SHUTTLE AND MOVE TOWARDS IT TURN BODY SIDE ON RACKET UP AND BEHIND HEAD WEIGHT ONTO BACK FOOT FRONT ARM OUT FOR BALANCE/TRACK SHUTTLE ACTION SHOULDER/ARM BROUGHT FORWARD AT SPEED ACTION RESEMBLES THROWING ACTION WEIGHT TRANSFERS ONTO FRONT FOOT AT SHUTTLE IMPACT CONTACT SHUTTLE ABOVE HEAD STRIKE THROUGH SHUTTLE RECOVERY RACKET COMES DOWN AND ACROSS BODY RETURN TO MIDDLE OF COURT INTO ‘READY’ POSITION WAITING TO RECEIVE NEXT SHOT

Whole Learning Vs Part Learning Good for learning simple skills Allows skills to be learnt as a whole, giving learner and experience of how the skill feels- kinaesthetic Used to identify technical faults in the overall skill Good for learning complex skills. Allows skills to be broken down into manageable parts, making learning more achievable. Used to help correct technical faults in technique.

Activity In badminton: give an example of a whole practice Give 3 examples of part practice

Massed and Distributed Practice

Massed Practice “ this is practicing a skill without a break and occurs when an activity is repeated continuously over a period of time with very little or no rest” E.G Continuously practicing a serve for 20minutes Performing set plays with a team for 20minutes Continuously rallying the overhead clear.

Massed practice Advantages: Good for learning simple skills Good when first learning a skill Allows skill requirements to be reinforced though repetition Disadvantages: Performer can become bored by the repetitive nature. Requires large amounts of concentration and motivation Can cause fatigue due to no rest

Distributed Practice This is practicing the skill with breaks in between activities. It involves practice sessions in which there is an equal or greater amount of rest between each practice trial. E.G 2mins work on overhead clear followed by 2mins rest of footwork based activities then repeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zU5NZeyilc

Distributed practice Advantages: Good for continuous activities that could become tiring Gives players rest, allowing them to recover and think about how to improve (mental practice). Maybe more effective than massed practice due to similarity with actual game Disadvantages: - Can take longer to develop skills, due to lack of repetition compared with massed practice.

Activity Types of practice Skill (whole or part) Practice time (Distributed or Massed) National level badminton player Whole Massed Beginning badminton player learning how to serve for the first time Part PE class practicing a Badminton over head clear they learnt 3 weeks ago. Distributed An Un-coordinated PE student trying to master the badminton smash